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Zenyatta Stays Perfect With Win

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The Associated Press

Published: October 25, 2008

ARCADIA, Calif. - Make it 9-for-9 for the unstoppable Zenyatta.

The 4-year-old filly stayed perfect in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita on Friday, roaring from last to first around the turn to win the race and make a case for Horse of the Year honors.

Zenyatta, ridden by Mike Smith, trailed by as many as 10 lengths on the back stretch. When Smith asked her, she responded with her trademark push to beat Cocoa Beach by 1 1/2 lengths.

The heavy favorite paid $3 while covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.85.

The win was the first Breeders' Cup victory for trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss. The trio previously won the 2005 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo.

Smith's two wins moved him into a second-place tie with Pat Day for most in the Breeders' Cup. Smith and Day both have 12 wins at horse racing's Super Bowl.

All-time leader Jerry Bailey has 15.

Zenyatta still has four races to go to match Personal Ensign's perfect 13-for-13 record.

Zenyatta wasn't the only star on Ladies' Day, and she may have found a kindred spirit in Stardom Bound.

The 2-year-old gray filly, also ridden by Smith, came through with an electrifying victory in the $2 million BC Juvenile Fillies.

Trainer Christopher Paasch dubbed his star "Baby Z" in honor of Zenyatta, and Stardom Bound ran like it in a 1 1/2 -length win over Dream Empress. Like Zenyatta, Stardom Bound spotted the field early, falling all the way to 12th as Smith waited to push the button.

Stardom Bound isn't undefeated like Zenyatta, but after gamely finishing off her third straight Grade I win, she is unquestionably this season's champion 2-year-old. Stardom Bound paid $5.20 as the seventh straight favorite to win the Juvenile Fillies.

Also on the five-race card devoted exclusively to fillies and mares, Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel pulled off an upset in the $1 million BC Filly & Mare Sprint and former assistant Chad Brown quickly followed in his mentor's footsteps with a win in the $1 million BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Forever Together prevailed by three-quarters of a length in a wide-open stretch scramble to win the $2 million BC Filly & Mare Turf.

Frankel's Ventura started the day by surging past heavy favorite Indian Blessing midway through the stretch to take the Filly & Mare Sprint, and Brown's Maram backed it up a half hour later.

Brown still credits Frankel as an inspiration

The Breeders' Cup continues with nine more races today, including the $5 million BC Classic.

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